Here are ten great reasons to live at Washington Mills!

1. All apartments include dishwashers, so no more ”dishpan hands”.

2. Our fitness center is open 24 hours a day, so you can fit exercise into your busy schedule!

3. We are pet friendly and we love pets. Last year we had a “Cutest Pet Halloween Costume” contest!

4. You wont have to scour your sofa for quarters anymore. Your new apartment has a washer and dryer in it!

5. Follow us on Facebook and enter our weekly trivia contests. Great prizes are given away every week!

6.  We love being green! Recycle your glass, plastic and paper in recycling bins located on the first floor.

7. We are surrounded by great pizza places!  Try pizza from Tripoli Bakery, Jims Original Subs, Romanos Pizzeria and many more. Mangia!

8. Like to hike?  Visit Den Rock Park, Lawrences’ very own wooded preserve where you can hike, bird watch and more.

9. Grab a cup of joe! We have a coffee bar located on the 2nd floor for your convenience.

10. Last but not least, you’ll love our staff! We are proud to say we have the friendliest, most helpful staff around!

Recently we had nutritionist Rachael Gargano come in and speak to residents about eating for energy. Lots of our residents had questions about carbohydrates, those dreaded but delicious things that make up so many of our favorite foods. Rachel explained the difference between good carbs and bad carbs. Yes, there are carbs that you can enjoy!  In her monthly newsletter, Rachel breaks down the truth about carbs. Read it here!

You can also browse her website for healthy recipes, tips and tricks to eating for your health. Check out RG Nutrition and Wellness here!

The Mall at Rockingham Park is throwing an event for National Mom’s Nite Out! This Thursday, May 10th starting at 5pm visit the mall for makeovers, refreshments, fashion tips, give aways, entertainment and more!

The event will  be held on Level 1, at the Lord & Taylor store.

Heritage State Park is having a May Day Celebration, and they are right across the street from Washington Mills! The following information is provided from the Heritage State Park website.

Living in a thriving community like Lawrence means there is always a lot going on.  A great way to give back and help the community grow is to volunteer. Here are two great ways to give back!

The first is in Methuen, and will entail placing flags on Veteran’s gravesites for Memorial Day.  The dates and locations are as follows:

Saturday, May 5, at Elmwood Cemetery, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Saturday, May 12, Walnut Grove Cemetery, 9 a.m. and Elmwood Cemetery, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, May 19, Mary Immaculate and Bellevue cemeteries, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m

Call the Methuen Department of Veteran’s Services if you need more info or would like to assist! The number is (978)983-8585.

The second volunteer opportunity is right here in Lawrence.  You can assist the Samaritans of Merrimack Valley in their crisis call center.  All volunteers will go through a training program , and as a volunteer you should be able to commit to 5 hours per week. Contact Debbie at Family Service Inc for more information at (978)327-6671.

Apricots come into season in May, and there are many benefits to eating these small, sweet fruits. Low in calories and full of Vitamin A, fiber and beta carotene, apricots are great for you and simple to incorporate into all kinds of recipes. The recipe below, for Apricot Crisp, comes to you from Cooks.com.  Try adding apricots to savory dishes or make an apricot salsa or muffins. The possibilities are endless! Do you have a favorite apricot dish?

Fresh Apricot Crisp

3 lbs of fresh apricots, sliced

1/3 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. apricot brandy or orange juice
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
3 tbsp. plus 1/4 c. flour, divided
1 c. chopped walnuts, divided
1 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. butter,  softened

Who knew taking a hike in the natural environment was so close to home?  Den Rock Park is located in Lawrence, MA and just minutes from Washington Mills.

Den Rock Park is a 120 acre wooded preserve that offers trails, a rock face, and scenic views of the Shawsheen River.  The area was designated a park in 1896, and since then groups including Groundwork Lawrence and the City of Lawrence have been working tirelessly on improving the park and adding features to enhance your outdoor experience.

Den Rock park offers a variety of walking trails with views of the river. You can also see an abundance of local species of birds and animals including King Fishers, Red Tail Hawks, Blue Jays, Nut Hatches, deer, beavers, woodchucks and even the elusive fox!

For more information on Den Rock Park and for Park Rules and Regulations, please visit this page.

Earth Day is coming up this weekend. Earth Day is a great time to take a look at where you fit in on our planet and determine how you can help.  Here at Washington Mills, we are committed to reducing our footprint.  We use scrap paper for note taking, as well as recycling all paper waste. We are proactive about keeping our heat and AC at moderate levels, and we always turn out lights when we are not in a room! Recently, we began giving residents copies of their paperwork on flash drives. This saves an unbelievable amount of paper!  We have recycling bins in the building for residents to dispose of plastic, paper and glass.  Do you want to get involved?  Join Groundwork Lawrence in their annual Earth Day, Comcast Cares Day that takes place throughout Lawrence this Saturday, April 21st. Help Groundwork Lawrence reach their goal of 1,000 volunteers this year! Call Rosa at 978-974-0770 ext 7001 to become a site captain or to work on a team.

Titanic: The Musical is being presented by the Pentucket Players this weekend and it will be a great event!
“The Broadway musical Titanic tells the factual story of her officers, crew, and passengers and recounts through music the epic story of triumph and tragedy. Pentucket Players brings this Tony Award-winning Musical to life in tribute of the 100th Anniversary of the launching and sinking of “the ship of dreams.”

See this production in a limited showing, April 13th and 14th right in Andover. Purchase your tickets here or visit the Pentucket Players website.

Did you know Nevins Farm SPCA has all kinds of adoptable animals, including bunny rabbits? Just in time for spring you can get your picture taken with cuddly bunnys and aid with their care! The event is being held on April 7th from 2-3:30pm. A small donation of $5 is requested which will support bunnies with special medical needs. Please bring your camera! After you get your picture taken, visit the bake sale and join in on an Egg Hunt. It will be fun for all!

Nevins Farm, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844  (978)687-7453 ext 6101